If $$$ was not a problem, what novel would you make into a movie?

I would love to do one of the following:

The Scythe - Ray Bradbury

Kansas - a Sci Fi short story about mind recording and such

War and Peace - Not a movie but a 12 part mini-series where each part is 3 hours long.

and the one I would love to do most

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
 
Stone Junction by Jim Dodge - some great characters that would thrive on celluloid, not sure how invisible bits would come to fruition but am intrigued
 
Drew Ott said:
Mine: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, because I love his short stories and I don't have time for his longer (1079 pages!) ones yet.
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 There are rumours circulating about a possible adaptation. I do know for certain that someone, somewhere purchased the rights around the time of Wallace’s death last September, as I know someone that came close to buying them a couple of months prior to that tragedy, then later found out that they were no longer available.

I personally don’t see how it could possibly work as even a mini-series, let alone a feature, and I sincerely hope that it never happens. I think the main problem is that (like most of Wallace’s work) it is acutely AWARE of itself AS TEXT. There is also a credible – and fairly widely held – interpretation that Infinite Jest (the book) is a literal description of Infinite Jest (the film), which causes a lot of problems.

I am, however, intrigued to see what John Krasinski has done with Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.

But Drew, seriously, if you haven’t read it, and you like DFW’s other work, do yourself a favor and just read it! I appreciate that it’s a hell of a commitment to get through it – aside from its length, it’s not exactly an ‘easy-read’ – but trust me, it’s truly worth it!

Danny


 
Mark Harris said:
The Master and Margarita
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 It has been attempted several times by several different countries over the years, both as a feature and a mini-series, although I haven’t seen any of them (I have read three different translations of the book, however!). There have apparently also been a couple of adaptations made that dealt only with the Pilate sections of the book.

There is a production currently listed as ‘in development’ on IMDB, but as I’m not a pro-subscriber, I don’t know any details. I do remember hearing rumours a few years ago of an English-language version to be directed by (I think) Tom Tykwer, with Ricky Gervais as the cat!

Personally I’d love to see what Gilliam would do with it, especially since he seems to become more and more cynical as the years go by – and I’m sure that he can MORE than relate to the Master’s (and, indeed Bulgakov’s) plight (Hollywood = Stalin!). Plus, he’s worked with Tom Waits as an actor before, who would be my first choice to play Woland.


 
My first would be 1984.

Close behind would probably be Sirens of Titan. But any Vonnegut book would do.
 
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, and Endymion by Dan Simmons (as a filmed trilogy)

Dune by Frank Herbert

Ringworld by Larry Niven

The Pride of Chanur by CJ Cherryh

At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft

Gloriana and The Warlord of the Air by Michael Moorcock

Cities of the Red Night by William S. Burroughs
 
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711 said:
Close behind would probably be Sirens of Titan. But any Vonnegut book would do.
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 Here I come again with a “well, actually…”

Believe it or not, the first person to secure the rights to Sirens of Titan was Jerry Garcia! He brought the project to the attention of his friend, Francis Coppola, who read it and said something along the lines of “This isn’t a movie; this is philosophy!” I have no idea who currently holds the rights.

I’m a big fan of the film-adaptation of Mother Night, and I think that Alan Rudolph’s Breakfast of Champions is brilliantly cast, and has some wonderful moments – but I can’t even BEGIN to imagine what it must seem like to someone who has never read the novel.

I’ve actually never seen George Roy Hill’s Slaughterhouse Five, nor Jonathan Demme’s TV movie of the short story, Who am I This Time?, although I’d love to see Walken do Brando!

I have seen Harrison Bergeron, another TV movie, starring Sean Astin, adapted from another Vonnegut short story, which has recently been adapted again to great acclaim, as a 25-minute short titled 2081.

 
PK Gillock said:
What about Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". That seems like an epic to me, with the 1920's and 1930's style. It could be beautiful.
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/

mmm said:
I'd like to do Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. Lovely action flick!
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Tom Clancy's “Without Remorse”

Graeme_Nattress said:
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress would probably make the best movie from a Heinlein book, and it's story is all the more important today than it's ever been.
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Fantastic book! Would make a great movie. Also "The Number of the Beast", "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls" and "To Sail Beyond the Sunset".

Moonwind said:
All the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey
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Absolutely! Would probably have to be done more as a cable series, however.




The Eddings Belgariad/Mallorean books plus the Belgarath and Polgara novels and also the Eddings Elenium/Tamuli series. Again, more of a cable series kind of thing.

Asimov - the Elijah Baily/Daneel Olivaw books would make excellent films. I would also like to see "I, Robot" made true to the novel.

Arthur C. Clark - "The Songs of Distant Earth"

John Varley - Many of his short stories would make good movies as would the Gaea Trilogy.

Terry Brooks- Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold!

E. E. "Doc" Smith - The Grey Lensmen Series

Piers Anthony - The Incarnations of Immortality series. Also "Tathum Mound".

Orson Scott Card - "Lost Boys" (no, not about vampires...) would make an excellent horror film, especially to parents.




I would love to see "The Robe" (Lloyd C. Douglas) remade faithfully to the book. The same for Stephen Kings "It".
 
I don't know after reading what other books were mentioned, I think the Bible being mentioned earlier would be one of the best. Granted I wouldn't vote for the mockumentary style ;) But you gotta admit some of those chapters in there would be incredibly epic.

Roland Emmerich would have to direct the Noah section of the film, haha.
 
Features:

Second Variety by Philip K. Dick
Already done as Screamers, starring Peter Weller, but they screwed up the ending. Plus, with the effects technology available today, it would be worth revisiting.

VALIS by Philip K. Dick
Would make a mind-bending movie.

Neuromancer by William Gibson
Even though it is a bit dated, I think it could slightly altered enough to still work in today's age.

Gridlinked by Neal Asher
The first book in a series about Agent Ian Cormac, who is sort of a James Bond type of character in a future spacefaring civilization where instant teleportation technology binds together many different worlds. There is also a bit of a cyberpunk feel to the fictional universe as well.

Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo
A dark and somewhat depressing sci-fi horror novel that manages to echo the desolate loneliness of deep space, similarly to how Alien did, but is still its very own unique world and story. This could actually be a TV series too. It would be like no space show ever produced.

Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi
Two of the novels have been done as animes already, but there are many more novels in the series that could be done as a live action adaptation.

Creepers and The Spy Who Came For Christmas both by David Morrell
Both are high concept thrillers that read really fast, meaning that they would be ideal for adaptation to film.


Shorts:

Two Ray Bradbury short stories: Zero Hour and The Utterly Perfect Murder
Just two stories I really connected with, one about revenge and the other about paranoia and parent children relations during a possible alien invasion.
 
i always had a soft spot for the Dragonlance: Twins Trilogy, forget the original names...
I'd also do: PIllars of the earth, Ken Follet
Ship of Gold in a Deep Blue Sea, ?

then i'd remake the 4th Indy film....
 
Remakes:

Mind Prey - John Sandford

Star wars Episodes 6, 1, 2, & 3




Others:


The Hobbit

Virtual Light

The Black Madonna (Shadowrun)
 
Blue_Food said:


There are rumours circulating about a possible adaptation. I do know for certain that someone, somewhere purchased the rights around the time of Wallace’s death last September, as I know someone that came close to buying them a couple of months prior to that tragedy, then later found out that they were no longer available.

I personally don’t see how it could possibly work as even a mini-series, let alone a feature, and I sincerely hope that it never happens. I think the main problem is that (like most of Wallace’s work) it is acutely AWARE of itself AS TEXT. There is also a credible – and fairly widely held – interpretation that Infinite Jest (the book) is a literal description of Infinite Jest (the film), which causes a lot of problems.

I am, however, intrigued to see what John Krasinski has done with Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.

But Drew, seriously, if you haven’t read it, and you like DFW’s other work, do yourself a favor and just read it! I appreciate that it’s a hell of a commitment to get through it – aside from its length, it’s not exactly an ‘easy-read’ – but trust me, it’s truly worth it!

Danny


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Interesting.

I do eventually plan to read it... just haven't had the time yet. What is this that Kraskinski is up to?
 
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